Clutch mechanism.



PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905.

W. H. UORBETT,

GLUTGH MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAI-1.17, 1904.

liiTn SATns Patented January 1'7, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLUTCH MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. "780,159, dated January17, 1905.

Application filed March 1'7, 1904. Serial No. 198.656.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LVVILLIAM HARRISON Con- BETT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State ofOregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Olutch Mechanisms,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clutch mechanisms; and. it consists in certainimprovements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

More particularly the invention relates to clutch mechanisms forhoisting or logging machines, and in the accon'ipanying drawings it isshown in combination in a hoisting or log ging machine.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a hoisting device, partly in section, tobetter show construction. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the clutch-operatingend of the device. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1 lookingtoward the left. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 in Fig. 1 lookingtoward the right.

A. marks the base of the machine; B, the posts extending upwardly fromthe base. The upper ends of the posts are provided with the usualbearings 7) b, in which is journaled the shaft .1). The shaft is drivenby the gear (J. Mounted upon the shaft is the drum E. The gear 0 has thecone-surface O fixed to rotate with it, and the drum E has thefriction-surface E', which is adapted to be brought into engagement withthe surface O for setting the clutch. A spring F holds theclutch-surface E normally out of engagement with the surface O. A collarE is arranged on the shaft against the end of the drum E, and the key Gis arranged in the slot (Z in the shaft and against the collar E. A pinH extends through an opening (1 in the shaft and is arranged against thekey G. The structure so far as described is in common use, and its operation will be readily understood. When pressure isexerted upon thethrust-pin H, it is communicated through the key Gr, collar E drum E, soas to bring the surface E into engagement with the surface O and set theWhen this pressure is relieved, the

clutch.

spring F throws the surface E out of engagement.

It is desirable to have the drum come as near the bearings as possible,so that the shaft 1) may be made as light as possible. It is alsodesirable to relieve the bearings of any thrust in other words, to haveit self-sustained, so far as the shaft is concerned, so that the clutchmay be maintained in engagement without exerting any thrust on thebearings. it is also desirable that such mechanism be provided wherebythe clutch may be thrown into and out of engagement while the parts arein motion. These things have been accomplished heretofore by means ofspeciallydesigned thrust devices which are more or less cumbersome andexpensive, as well as being subject to severe Wear. By the presentinvention a mechanism has been devised by which a simple leverconstruction is utilized on this class of clutch and accomplishes allthe desirable purposes heretofore mentioned.

In order that the device may be readily at tached to existingmechanisms, I provide the shaft D with an extension I. This is securedto the screw-thread (Z on the end of the shaft and is in the form of asleeve. Slidingly mounted on this extension is the thrustframe J. Thisthrust-frame J has a slot 7", at the sides of which are the projections7'. The end of the frame is provided with a thrustflange j into which isscrewed a rod K, the end of the rod abutting against the thrust-pin H.The outer end of the rod has a smooth surface forming a means of supportfor the clutch-actuating mechanism. Bell-crank levers N are pivoted onthe pin j, extending between the projections One arina of the bell-cranklever extends into an opening 1 in the extension I and is fulcrumedagainst the walls of this opening, or, in other words, said arms are, sofar as the thrust is concerned, fulcrumed on the shaft, the shaftextension being virtually a part of the shaft. The opposite end a of thebell-crank lever extends 9 out over the rod K. As before stated, the rodK is screw-threaded, so that it may be screwed into or out of the flangeBy this means any wear may be taken up and the thrust mechanismadjusted.

The screw is locked in T00 any adjusted position by the jam-nut it.

Mounted on the smooth part of the shaft K is a sliding block L. A collarM is locked on this sliding block against axial movement. but is free tomove rotatively. As arranged, it is in the groove shown by the dottedline I. The pin 071 extends from this collar, and the operating-lever Mengages these pins. The sliding block L may be moved in and out by thelever M to set or disengage the clutch. The radially-acting levers O arepivoted, by means of the pin 01?, on the arms a of the levers N. Theselevers have the throated ends 0, which extend at each side of thesliding block L and the rod K. At one side of the throat 0 are forks 0.The single end 0 of the throat 0 is placed between the arms of the forks0, one being at each side. The levers are interchangeable, as clearlyshown in Fig. 4. Links P are also arranged between the ends of the forks0, and the whole is assembled-that is, the links and the ends of thearmsby the pins 1). The links Pare also pivotally secured to the slidingblock L. The inner end of the sliding block is so proportioned that theradial levers O are carried just beyond the point bringing the pivotsbetween said levers and their pivotal connection with the arms of thebell-cranks in line, so that when the sliding block L is moved inwardlyinto contact with the nut k the clutch mechanism remains set by reasonof this fact. By connecting the radial levers O a toggle-joint isformed, and by operating this with the link connection formed by thelink P the rod K is relieved entirely of any radial thrust incident toany inequalities in the levers or fulcrums, so that the sliding blockwill move freely upon said rod, and the rod may be made quite lightwithout danger of being bent.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a clutch mechanism the combination of theclutch members; ashaft on which said members are mounted; bearings forthe shaft; said clutch members being mounted on said shaft between saidbearings; a clutch-actuating mechanism mounted on said shaft outside ofsaid bearings comprising bell-crank-shaped thrust-levers fulcrumed onthe shaft; devices for communicating the action of the thrust mechanismto the clutch; and radially-acting levers for actuating saidthrust-levers.

2. In a clutch the combination of the clutch members; a shaft on whichsaid members are mounted; bearings for the shaft; said clutch membersbeing mounted on said shaft between said bearings; a clutch-actuatingmechanism mounted on said shaft outside of said bearings comprisingasliding thrust-frame; bell-crankshaped thrust-levers mounted on saidframe and fulcrumed on the shaft; radially-acting levers for actuatingsaid thrust-levers; and devices for communicating the action of thethrust-frame to the clutch.

3. In a clutch mechanism the combination having the slots ,7" andprojectionsy'thereon the bell-crank leversN pivoted between saidprojections having the arm n fulcrumed on the shaft and the arm aextending axially; devices communicating the action of the frame J tothe clutch; and mechanism for actuating the levers N.

4. In a clutch mechanism, the combination of the clutch members; a shafton which said members are mounted; bearings for the shaft; said clutchmembers being mounted on said shaft between said bearings aclutch-actuating mechanism mounted on said shaft outside of saidbearings, comprising bell-crank-shaped levers fulcrumed on the shaft;means for communicating the thrust from the clutch-actuating mechanismto the clutch; and means for adjusting said devices to take up the wear;and radially-acting levers for actuating said levers.

5. In a clutch mechanism the combination of the clutch members; a shafton which they are mounted; a clutch-actuating mechanism comprising asupporting-rod; a sliding member mounted on said rod; radial leversthroated to extend around said rod and arranged to form a toggle-joint,the throats of said'levers having the forks at one side, the arms ofwhich are arranged to make the levers interchangeable; and linksconnecting the levers with the sliding member, said links being pivotedon the levers between the arms of the forks.

6. In a clutch mechanism the combination of the clutch members; a shafton which they are mounted; bearings for said shaft; said clutch membersbeing mounted on said shaft between said bearings; a clutch actuatingmcheanism arranged outside of said bearings; a thrust-pin extending inthe shaft through the bearings and arranged to communicate the action ofthe clutch-actuating mechanism to the clutch; a sliding thrust-frame; ascrew arranged in said thrust-frame for adjusting the clutch, said screwhaving an extension forming a support for a sliding block; said slidingblock and devices controlled by the sliding block for operating theclutch-actuating mechanism.

7. In a clutch mechanism the combination of the clutch members 0 and E;the shaft D; bearings for said shaft at each side of the clutch members;the thrust-pin H for actuating the clutch from without the bearings; theextension I removably secured to the end of the shaft having theopenings 2'; the sliding thrust-frame J mounted on said extension andsaid extension having the slot 1' and projection j; the bell-cranklevers N pivoted between said projections, one arm of the bellcrankextending into the opening c', and being fulcrurned against the wallthereof, and the opposite end of the bell-crank extending axially; theflange on the sliding frame; the rod K having the screw end secured intothe flange against the thrust-pin H; the sliding block L on said rod;the radial levers O formingatoggle-joint and being connected with theends of the levers N; and the links I0 P connecting the block with saidradial levers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM HARRISON OORBETTN Witnesses:

GEORGE TAZWELL, (J. A. DOLPI-I.

